Arm and Samsung this week announced a joint design technology co-optimization (DTCO) program for Arm’s next-generation Cortex general-purpose CPU core and Samsung’s next-generation gate-all-around (GAA) multi-bridge process technology – channel field-effect transistor (MBCFET).
“Optimizing Cortex-X and Cortex-A processors on the latest Samsung process nodes highlights our shared vision to redefine what is possible in mobile computing, and we look forward to continuing to push boundaries to meet the relentless demands for performance and efficiency in the AI era,said Chris Bergey, senior vice president and general manager of Customer Business at Arm.
Under the plan, the two companies aim to provide customized versions of the Cortex-A and Cortex-X cores manufactured on Samsung’s 2nm-class process technology for a variety of applications, including smartphones, data centers, infrastructure and various custom on-chip system. Currently, the two companies have not disclosed whether they aim to jointly optimize Arm’s Cortex core for Samsung 1.Yingshi A second generation nanoproduction node called SF2 (due in 2025), or plans to optimize these cores for all SF2 family technologies, including SF2 and SF2P.
GAA nanosheet transistors, with their channels surrounded by gates on all four sides, have many optimization options. For example, nanosheet channels can be widened to increase drive current and improve performance, or narrowed to reduce power consumption and cost. Depending on the application, Arm and Samsung will have plenty of design options.
Keep in mind that we’re talking about Cortex-A cores targeted at a variety of applications as well as Cortex-X cores designed specifically to deliver maximum performance, so the results of the collaborative effort are expected to be quite good. We are particularly looking forward to Cortex-X cores with maximized performance, Cortex-A cores with optimized performance and power consumption, and Cortex-A cores with lower power consumption.
Today, collaboration between IP (intellectual property) developers such as Arm and foundries such as Samsung Foundry is critical to maximizing performance, reducing power consumption and optimizing transistor density. The partnership with Arm will ensure that Samsung’s foundry partners have access to processor cores that accurately meet their needs.